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UDF Video

I had some vhs tapes converted to dvds.

I can play them but I’d like to download them so they can be edited in iMovie.

Is there a way or a program that allows Universal Disk Format to be downloaded to the hard disk and used in iMovie?

— Bruce

Comments: 12 Responses to “UDF Video”

    14 years ago

    Have you tried Handbrake? If they are regular DVDs (can be played as DVDs on your Mac) then Handbrake will do the trick.

    Bruce
    14 years ago

    Thank you. I tried Handbrake and it says I need VLC media player.

    I'd rather not clutter up my system with a bunch of apps.

    Is there something that works with Quicktime?

      14 years ago

      That's odd. I've never had Handbrake ask for VLC for anything. But VLC is a good program too. If it gets the job done, I wouldn't think of it as clutter. You could always remove it later.
      QuickTime should work to play back the converted video later, but it won't read the DVD files.

      Mike Skubiak
      12 years ago

      I have Handbreak and have no trouble converting the UDF file to MP4. I can use my IMAC to convert that file to whatever I wish. Hope this helps. Mike

    Bruce
    14 years ago

    Thank you. After several attempts and "doh" moments I got Handbrake
    and VLC to work. It plays fine in iTunes and VLC. But iMovie won't import it. It's .m4v which Apple says is supposed to work. I can't figure out why it won't import. Any ideas.

      14 years ago

      Just have to try different settings. Instead of m4v, try .mp4 (even try just renaming the file from m4v to mp4 to see if that works, then try exporting as mp4).

    Bruce
    14 years ago

    Man that was quick. I found this out right after asking the question and it worked perfectly. Thank you!

    Nick Paratore
    12 years ago

    Thank you for any help you may provide as i have downloaded handbrake and selected my DVD file though handbrake cannot open it

    VPhuc
    12 years ago

    I'm using Handbrake to "rip" rental DVD movies for my personal collection. The ripped movie file is mp4, and the movie plays fine on my Mac or Samsung tablet. However when I burn it on a blank DVD to play in my Sony DVD player, I get an error message "The disk cannot be played or recorded" or some thing in that kind. Does anyone have any idea what I should do? Greatly appreciate your tips.

      12 years ago

      First, you realize that what you are doing violates copyright. In a big, no-doubt-about-it kind of way.
      Second, you can't just put a mp4 file on a blank DVD and expect it to play in a DVD player. That's not how DVDs work.
      My advice to you is to buy the DVDs you want. If you can't afford that, then don't buy them. Rent them, watch them, and return them.

        VPhuc
        12 years ago

        First, you realize that I only did it for my personal purposes. If I want to do some "video piracy", I wouldn't come to this forum and have found ways to resolve the issue longtime ago. Heck, my "pirate" videos would have been sold on every corner of the street already! =)
        Second, as you pointed it out, I cannot burn a mp4 file on a DVD. This just reiterates why I'm seeking advice on a public forum such as this one, instead of going to the "underground" tech groups. Or if I'm so tech-verse, then I don't need to ask for your advice then.
        Finally, my kids are not so careful with DVDs, rented or personals. At least if I have an extra copy, then I don't have to rent it every time, also more convenient to play in the car during long trips. As for buying, kids get over these movies fairly quickly. So I don't want to end up with a library of 200 Elmo movies after a year. Unless someone foots the bill, then I don't mind. Just let me know where to send the bill! Making extra copies also applied to a bunch of videos that I ALREADY BOUGHT.
        LOL. Thanks but no thanks for your advice.

          12 years ago

          Copying rental videos IS piracy. Just because you are stealing one copy for yourself and not reselling it doesn't make it OK. That's like stealing one car for yourself instead of a bunch of cars and reselling them.
          It is one thing to take a DVD you own and make a copy to preserve the original DVD (actually, the movie companies say it is not OK, but that is debatable). But it is completely another to rent a movie and copy it so you can own that copy.
          So my final advice to you is:
          1. Don't copy movies you are renting, only consider this for movies you own.
          2. You can't take a mp4 and put it on a DVD. That just creates a computer "data" DVD with the file on it. You need to create a real "video DVD" using DVD creation software. I don't have any recommendations there, and most are built to make home video DVDs (vacation videos, etc). Perhaps look at Toast?

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